The Emporia City Commission may have to raise trash fees by 25 percent and close the city's transfer station on Sundays to balance the solid waste budget, City Manager Matt Zimmerman said Wednesday night.
According to the city, if 2008 revenues match projections and all requested purchases are made, the solid waste fund would end up nearly $329,000 in the hole. Raising fees and cutting service would allow the city to cover that deficit but would leave nothing for a cash reserve -- a situation the commission has hoped to avoid.
"How do you run a business, how do you run a home without some kind of reserves?" Commissioner Bobbie Agler said. "Accidents happen."
Zimmerman agreed but said that without a major tax hike it wouldn't be possible to cover everything.Commissioners have said they do not want to raise property taxes by more than four mills for next year.
As it stands, much of the $12 million capital improvement plan that the city commission adopted Wednesday night for 2008 will probably be unfunded. The plan says what the city wants to do for equipment purchases and projects, but doesn't require any money to be put forward.
"We know there are going to be many, many items in here we're not going to be able to afford," Commissioner Jim Kessler said. "But I guess it's a plan."
"Well, it's all out on the table in front of us instead of coming at us hit-and-miss," Agler said.
The five-year $53 million capital improvement plan calls for $32 million from the city if fully funded.
Zimmerman said he knew there might be some resistance to raising trash fees, especially since the city only last increased them in 2006. But though the percentage sounded high, he said, in real terms it adds up to about $31 more per year for a typical home.
"No one ever wants to pay more money," Zimmerman said. "But the nice thing about the enterprise funds is you can pretty much say 'These are our costs and this is what our revenue is expected to be."
Closing the transfer station on Sundays, if adopted, would save the city about $60,000 a year.The rate increases, if passed, would take effect Jan. 1.
Meanwhile, the city still has to work out how to balance the general fund this year. The gap between what the city would like to do and what the city can afford to do is about $2.5 million. That includes funding the capital improvement plan and the results of a wage study later this year, but does not leave the minimum 5 percent cash reserve that both Zimmerman and the commission consider essential.
Agler said filling that gap is going to mean some tough calls.
"Bluntly, I'm not sure we can fund the CIP (capital improvement plan) fully every year without raising taxes," Ager said.
"You're very right," Zimmerman said. "We can't. If we had zero bond and interest, maybe. But we're way behind the eight-ball on bond and interest."
Of a proposed four-mill property tax increase, nearly 1.25 mills would end up going to the city's bond and interest fund to help pay off existing debt.
Agler said the city was going to have to take a hard look at its operating costs in order to create a balanced budget.
"There's two sides to a budget and one of them is cutting the cotton-pickin' expenses," he said.
"I am not afraid to pull the trigger to balance the budget," Zimmerman said.
In other action:
F The commission commended Evora Wheeler and Ron Slaymaker for their work in coordinating the city's 150th anniversary celebration. Those two, in turn, thanked the volunteers, the media and everyone else who had made the event work. "We received a lot of credit ... but wow, the city really stepped up," Slaymaker said. "'The city' meaning all of us."
F A request to close part of Seventh Avenue for a Sept. 15 event by Natasha's was postponed until the commission's Aug. 1 meeting. Contrary to information previously released by the city, the event is not a fund-raiser for Brandon Ayers -- that happens two weeks earlier -- but is a celebration of the pool hall's second anniversary. If passed, Seventh Avenue would be closed from the alleyway near Natasha's to Commercial Street for an event including live music, pool and alcohol sales. The pool hall proposes to fence off the area and use off-duty police officers for security.
daveedailey (anonymous) says...
Why do they not just come out and say this town is drying up? They keep punishing the people who live and are established here by raising taxes, fees, etc. I have yet to see any kind of break for the little guys including the common folk. They ask, how do you run a business, how do you run a home without reserves. The way they are taxing and raising the prices of everything where is one supposed to get and keep money in reserve. You best believe not one of the people running this town will ever be able to answer honestly any and all questions about all the waste of money. In the past year and even longer all I have seen so far is spend, spend and spend some more and none of it has attracted any others to move here. Why not put more clocks in, and more round abouts with clocks so we can see how fast we can go round and round?
July 19, 2007 at 8:41 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
vankamp (anonymous) says...
I thought it was common sense how you run a home without reserves. You cut out wants and just go with needs and when the city raises everything you are paying for, you cut out needs also. You consolidate trips, you don't water your yard and in some cases you put off your needed medicines and any doctor visits. If any of these commisioners ever had to cut out their wants they might be thinking a little differently...like the common man. I'm sick and tired of the rich cats thinking that ever one else spends like they do. They are wasteful representatives of the taxpayers money.
July 19, 2007 at 8:52 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
vankamp (anonymous) says...
I wonder if any of them have seen the poll on the right hand side of the gazette on-line about raising taxes or cutting services. Then again it probably wouldn't matter to them because they are not representing the people, only themselves.
July 19, 2007 at 8:54 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
johncanyon (anonymous) says...
The reader poll says that they (the readers) are in favor of cutting services. I was just wondering what services you would propose that we cut? Police? Fire?
I seen in an earlier article that the police dept. wants SUVs for there supervisors. Why on earth would the EPD need an off road 4wd SUV? And, why does the county and city need a CSI unit? Why couldn't they use the same one? Is there that much crime in Lyon County that we need 2 CSI units? HELL...maybe we should be like Topeka and buy a couple helicopters, if the crime here is that bad
This would be a good place to start cutting some of the "fat". I think it would be fine to get rid of some of the unneccesary equipment, but not the employees.
July 19, 2007 at 9:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
daveedailey (anonymous) says...
Thank you van and john. I am so glad that others are finally seeing just what is going on. I hope lots of people show up tonight at Mary Herbert school to help protest all the things that are going on around here. I still think an outside audit of the books would be helpful. Of course I still like the idea of more clocks so those of us who drive around will watch time and money fly!!!(LOL) Of course the audit will be high dollar because we have to hire out of town, but there are a couple of reasons for that and I think you all know why.
July 19, 2007 at 9:41 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MelissaE (anonymous) says...
I mentioned my suggestion of cutting services before. Instead of weekly trash pick-up, people should have to go to the dump. It's interesting, what happens when people are forced to deal with their own trash.
Also, I didn't realize the EPD wanted SUVs. That's funny. I guess I could understand it if Emporia were in the mountains or in ice/snow 9 months out of the year. But just to have them?
How about hiring a mechanic to fix the cars they have?
Oh--and cutting services: How much does the "Municipal Golf Course" cost to run per day? How much is Emporia paying the manager of the golf course?
Stupid spending. Talk about "wants" vs. "needs".
M
July 19, 2007 at 9:55 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dayjob55 (anonymous) says...
The only way that I can think of for the commissioners to start listening to the people is for the people to stop paying. I don't know if it's still an option but you used to be able to pay your real estate property taxes marked in the memo line "paid under protest". The checks were then held until the protest was settled. The taxes were considered paid because they were received on time but the checks couldn't be cashed. I'm not sure if all of these details are correct but you get the gist. If enough people quit paying their taxes then there's no money to spend. If there's no money then maybe (key word here being MAYBE) the commissioners will start to listen to the little guy. Yes a lot of taxes are paid out of escrow so those people have no choice paying their property taxes but those of us who pay our own property taxes can start a grass roots revolution. Come on commissioners. There is a huge difference between wants and needs. We need police & fire protection, we don't need streets slurry sealed. We need ambulance service, we don't need SUV's for the big shots. Hasn't anyone driving around in a "city" or "county" car thought that maybe they really didn't need to be in a NEW car every few years? Maybe a little routine maintenance and a little sacrifice could get a lot more years out of these vehicles. No, it wouldn't look as nice & wouldn't have all the bells & whistles but do I really care? NO. Come on taxpayers - let your voices be heard all the way around. Stop sitting on your thumbs and let this town & county know that enough is enough.
July 19, 2007 at 9:55 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
quilter (anonymous) says...
I have gone several years without a raise...I wonder how many other "ordinary" people have done the same? Any from the city or county employees?
July 19, 2007 at 9:58 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
daveedailey (anonymous) says...
I agree with everyone on here so far. Too bad that the commissioners will not see or hear this. I wonder what would happen if there were no trash pickup. Remember that we as tax payers get to pay for attorneys and cleanup at a trailer court because too many people let the ball drop on that one even with all the restrictions and zoning laws around here. Of course, where is the persons hired to check out all these zoning items? I would like to see new SUVs driving in round abouts clocking their time.
July 19, 2007 at 10:02 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dayjob55 (anonymous) says...
Thanks for the good suggestions MelissaE but do you realize that they already charge you to go to the dump here unless you have compost? This is a lose, lose situation. We used to have unlimited trash pick-up twice a week, now it's once a week in the specified poly-cart that they've already raised the "rent" on at least once that I know of. And you wonder why people are dumping in the county? And I agree with you dave - we need another clock (at least 1) in each and every roundabout that we have and/or will get. That way everyone will know what time it always is & we can hire 8 or 10 more people to check the accuracy of the time each day and do maintenance on the clocks.
July 19, 2007 at 10:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
daveedailey (anonymous) says...
Maybe we need to put a clock at the municiple golf course so those people will know how long it takes to do nine holes. That way we can hire more people for maintenance out there. I wonder what kind of raises the golf manager will get? Then the city officials can go in the pretty new SUV. In all seriousness this town is trying to be city, and it is never going to work with the people we have running it. Emporia is a small town in Kansas and will always stay that way, especially with the way the people running our town like to run businesses and home owners out. Emporia has always been know for who you are and how much money you have. Nice thing is eventually everyone here will have less, the rich are the only ones who will survive and the comissioners because they all know how to screw the little guy.
July 19, 2007 at 10:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
daveedailey (anonymous) says...
Why not double the fees at the municipal golf course, cut the managers wages in half, and mow less often? I see a tremendous amount of money saved by doing this.
July 19, 2007 at 11:13 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
daveedailey (anonymous) says...
Sorry, but I got to thinking, and maybe a CSI unit would be good to find all the crooks that are running our fine town. Finger printed money would be good! (LOL)
July 19, 2007 at 11:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
frebrd_93 (anonymous) says...
I've read the comments here and they are good. I only wish that the answer would be to stop paying, but if you don't pay for the service of trash pick-up, then you lose your water. I am a taxpayer like everyone else and am sooo tired of every time I turn around something is getting raised. For the "higher ups" that would be fine ( you can bet they never have to worry about their water or everyday things would ever get shut off for non-payment ), but what about the people in this city that live on a fixed income or can only get around by public transit because they can't drive or simply won't? Sounds like no-one in this city is thinking about them. All I hear them thinking about is what everybody wants. In what life does everyone always get what they want?
July 19, 2007 at 11:59 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
daveedailey (anonymous) says...
Frebrd-93, I hear you. I apologize for the cities stupid waste of money and not caring for those on fixed incomes. As you can tell, they are only out to make temselves look good which in my eyes is pretty ugly right now. I guess they just think all "old folks" are taken care of because of medicare and ss, not so. They still have to live. Our commissioners hopefully will wake up to the fact this town is drying up and is getting worse every day. I do hope people attend the meeting tonight. Also, when it is election time again to seriously consider who and what you are voting for. Just think, what life would be if we could get away without paying taxes and how much money we could save if we had ten year tax breaks like the big company(who can well afford to pay taxes) then maybe we would be a little more lenient with the spending.
July 19, 2007 at 12:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
admireed (anonymous) says...
How about a "green fee" to use the library , parks and the zoo like there is at the golf course? De-adjust public employee wages 10%.
July 19, 2007 at 2:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
daveedailey (anonymous) says...
I hope every body remembers that Longbine is a car dealer so of course, he will make SUVs sound and look great, but of course I wonder will they go out of town to buy them? Also remember that Agler is a book keeper. Kind of weird huh?
July 19, 2007 at 2:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Pollyanna (anonymous) says...
Every day I go to these forums and read what everyone has to say and I respectfully take in everyon'e thoughts, complaints and attemps at solution. You all may criticize my opinion, call me naive, and stomp on my pollyana views, but the negativity lately in these forums sickens me. Did you actually think a new manager would come in and magically fix all the problems Emporia has accumulated over many years of mis-management? Automatically assuming Mr. Zimmerman is out to get all the little guys and those on a fixed budget is overly critical. I have a feeling if JC himself came on board for the city commission SOMEONE would bitch about his sandals or lack of leadership. While no community is perfect, I happen to LOVE the roundabout at the High School. It is FABULOUS. How many more times will people in these forums share their negative opinion of the clock. It's TIME to move on people!While it is imperative for every citizen to be aware of the happenings in their city, can't we do it in a professional, civilized manner and not automatically assume our ELECTED OFFICIALS are all crooks and uneducated nimrods?
July 19, 2007 at 3:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
daveedailey (anonymous) says...
Pollyanna, you have your right to say what you want, we have the right to say what we want. You, yourself make comments about us, but no where in your post do you give a solution to the problems. If it is time to move on then consider what we have stated is the mistakes that have been made and it is up to the people of Emporia to keep this kind of ridiculous spending from happening again. No where have I seen that Zimmerman is out to help the little guy or the poor. All I have seen so far is "feel sorry for Zimmerman".
July 19, 2007 at 3:33 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
daveedailey (anonymous) says...
Another thing to consider is that when one thing is raised as trash, then the rent goes up, if the water goes up, then rent goes up, the taxes go up, the rent goes up. How are the poor and fixed income to deal with this when all a town sees is to spend? I will not let up on the people who run this town until I see a change for the better in what they are doing to the people here. You know, not everybody has money just lying around!!!!!!!!!
July 19, 2007 at 3:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
daveedailey (anonymous) says...
Sorry, but I can not resist telling pollyanna, if you want to see and drive a true round about please go to Boston.
July 19, 2007 at 3:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Pollyanna (anonymous) says...
Boston? Heck no! The next big roundabout I'll be hitting is London's Lambeth Bridge roundabout. Clark Griswold (European Vacation) circled that bad boy for hours. "Look kids! Big Ben! Parliment!"
Your comment that we all have a right to our opinion as do you is beautiful. You also suggest that I have no answers to the current problems. Again, right you are Mr. Dailey. The reason for that is that there are no simple answers when it comes to budgets and funding. Certainly common sense leadership by our officials should be a key ingredient to a healthy community. It absolutely is up to each of us to ensure and help keep our officials on track by attending city meetings, volunteer where we can help others, and take leadership roles in our communty where our personal skillset fits best. I'm doing my part and try to remain positive about the town in which I've chosen to raise my family..I just find continual ranting about every subject exhausting and counterproductive to making Emporia a great place to live. You mention all you see is "feel sorry for Zimmerman" yet when I read your many many posts in just about every article, what I read is "feel sorry for Dave".
July 19, 2007 at 4:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Paccifier (anonymous) says...
Kstrebuchet you are totally correct about worse places to live- things are not perfect here- but there are worse places. I think it would be a shame to close the landfill Sundays, or charge for re-cycling- that makes no sense- You charge to re-cycle, so people don't, they go back to putting all that stuff into the trash, so the transfer station volume goes up, so we are paying for more truck trips, so the city will want a landfill sooner. Close the place Sundays, and where will all the grass clippings and limbs go? A lot of the grass clippings will end up in the polycart hidden under regular trash- because all of us who work Monday through Saturday can't get off to get to the station except for Sunday, when the place is closed- We live in a fairly decent town- if we want services, then we pay taxes. I could see paying a small fee per trip into the grass clipping/tree branch area of the place to keep it open Sundays, it would not be enough to cover the full bill, but it would help- and every bit of revenue will help on the overall budget- If anyone wants to complain about the City Budget, or offer ideas- go to the meeting next Thursday evening to share your knowledge
July 20, 2007 at 11:33 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
vankamp (anonymous) says...
I think it would be a good idea to close the landfill a couple of days during the week.
July 20, 2007 at 11:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
daveedailey (anonymous) says...
I think we might try to do what the towns back east do. There is no trash pick up period. Everyone goes to the dump free of charge. There are different sections to go to, the best is where you take stuff that you think somebody else might want or use. It is all done free. One town in mind is Lisbon Falls. It is a very well kept and clean town. Not sure if they have people patrolling to make sure it is kept that way or what. At least they are not paying for high dollar garbage trucks and fuel. Each person is responsible for his own. Recycling is also a real big thing there. Grocery stores are very well set up for recycle items and also pay top dollar.
July 20, 2007 at 11:59 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )